Australia's regional markets continue to hold their ground even as capital city price growth softens, and the affordability story sitting beneath that resilience is one South East Queensland knows intimately. PropTrack's latest figures show regional values remained at record highs through June and across the past twelve months, with regional Queensland up 11.5% over the year despite a marginal monthly dip. PropTrack senior economist Anne Flaherty expects that pattern to hold, noting, “Looking ahead, affordability is likely to remain a key driver of market performance, with the share of buyers looking to purchase in more affordable areas, such as regional markets, expected to increase.” For the many buyers weighing value and lifestyle across the region's corridors, that is a familiar and enduring drawcard.

The wealth already built into the market remains just as compelling. Cotality's latest Pain and Gain report found that 96% of homes sold nationally in the first quarter of 2026 changed hands at a nominal profit, the strongest result since March 2025 and a slight lift on the previous quarter, with a median gain of $377,000. Brisbane stood out as the country's most profitable capital, with 99.8% of resales turning a profit, ahead of Adelaide and Perth. For owners across South East Queensland, those figures are a clear endorsement of the region's long-term trajectory and the depth of growth banked over recent years.

The new financial year has also brought a wave of property law changes for owners and renters to keep in view. Victoria has introduced a Portable Rental Bond Scheme allowing renters to shift an existing bond to a new home for $25 rather than funding two at once, alongside new Home Warranty Insurance covering incomplete or defective work on contracts above $20,000. In the ACT, first home buyers, pensioners and some National Disability Insurance Scheme participants will no longer pay stamp duty, with the exemption extending to owner-occupiers purchasing new units. New South Wales has moved to stamp out underquoting, introducing tougher penalties and requiring prices or price guides to be published across all advertising.

State governments are also getting more inventive about lifting supply. Western Australia is proposing to cut the minimum block size for subdivision from 900 square metres to 700, a change it says could open more than 50,000 Perth properties to redevelopment from mid-2027, while Tasmania's new Modular Housing Finance Guarantee will partner with banks to fund modular homes through construction. Closer to home, the Queensland Government's Land Activation Program is working to unlock and release government land to private developers, joining reforms in New South Wales and Victoria aimed at trimming red tape and speeding approvals. For a region under sustained population pressure, faster and more flexible supply pathways matter.

Finally, Build-to-Rent is fast shedding its niche label as taxation changes reshape the rental pool. Cushman & Wakefield's International Head of Living, Conal Newland, describes the sector as an increasingly essential component of rental supply, with investors focused on long-term fundamentals rather than short-term conditions. He argues that clearer planning, faster approvals and consistent policy will be critical to the sector reaching its potential, adding, “As Australia continues to confront housing affordability and supply challenges, Build-to-Rent will not be the sole answer. But it is rapidly becoming one of the most important pieces of the solution.” For South East Queensland's growing rental market, it is a trend worth watching.

Johnson Real Estate covers sales and rentals across South East Queensland. Call 1800 SELL SMARTRE, or email sellsmartre@johnsonre.com.au.